Nigeria is “saddened” by the sale of two sculptures belonging to the south-eastern Igbo community, an official from the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments, has said.
A prominent art historian had called on the renowned auction house, Christie’s, to cancel the sale.
Prof Chika Okeke-Agulu told the BBC the two objects were “looted” from shrines during the civil war in the late 1960s.
The items were sold for just under $240,000 (£195,000) in Paris.
Christie’s rejected the claim that the sculptures were stolen, saying the Monday sale was perfectly legal.
The wooden objects about 1.5 metres high, one male and one female, represent deities from the Igbo community, their hands face upwards waiting to receive sacrifices and gifts.
SOURCE BBC
